Joel M. Baskin

Attorney at Law

Criminal Defense

One of the most common reasons for contact with a police officer is during a traffic stop. Approximately half of all traffic stops result in a traffic ticket being issued. Fighting traffic ticket charges are generally first on a driver’s mind after receiving a ticket. The Bureau of Justice Statistics estimate over 26 million drivers a year are pulled over in a traffic stop. Fighting Traffic Ticket Reasons There are many reasons why you may choose to fight a traffic ticket. Some questions to consider when making that decision to move forward in fighting traffic ticket for moving or non-moving […]

Prescription drugs taken legally does not make you immune from a DUI charge if pulled over for impaired driving. Many people are unaware that taking prescription drugs or even over-the-counter medications can bring a DUI charge just as if they were taking illegal drugs or driving under the influence of alcohol. Legally prescribed or taken medications can affect the ability to drive safely and in turn can result in a DUI charge to your driving record. Prescription Drugs and Impaired Driving Medications that are prescribed for a medical or psychological issue, or medications that are available over-the-counter can significantly impact […]

With clinicians having access to more than 10,000 prescription drugs in the U.S. and a third of American adults taking five or more medications, errors are bound to happen. However, medication errors are topping the ranks where more people die annually from a medication error than from workplace injuries. What is a Medication Error? The National Coordinating Council for Medication Error Reporting and Prevention, NCC MERP, defines a medication error as any preventable event that may cause or lead to inappropriate medication use or patient harm while the medication is in the control of the health care professional, patient, or […]

Most cases of false arrest involve shoplifting accusations and are typically made by security guards and store owners or managers. A false arrest is an arrest made without a warrant or probably cause and is a form of imprisonment and considered a direct violation of your 4th Amendment rights. False Arrest and False Imprisonment When accused of shoplifting for example, a security guard or other employee at the store may restrain you from leaving. False imprisonment amounts to restraining or restricting your ability to leave either through physical force, gestures or conduct. If you are restricted from leaving due to […]

Georgia has a traffic law on the books that you may not be aware of. Passed a few years ago, the Slow Poke Law is gathering hundreds of violations a year for surprised motorists. The law was written so that any driver — even ones who might already be at or exceeding the speed limit — must move to the right if traffic behind them is traveling faster and wishes to pass. Even if you are going faster than the speed limit, you still need to move over to let other faster drivers pass. Slow Poke Law Reasoning The law […]

Road rage occurs throughout the year but during the holiday season the incidence increases due to increased stress, crowded parking lots and roadways, increased travel to visit friends and relatives, and reports of “decreased time to get everything done.” Road Rage in Georgia The State of Georgia defines road rage or aggressive driving as operating a motor vehicle with the intent to annoy, harass, injure, intimidate, or obstruct another person. Aggressive behaviors may be against another driver, a pedestrian, passengers in another vehicle, or even passengers in the motor vehicle being driven by the accused. The law states that the […]

The Georgia Court of Appeals has ruled that parents can be held liable for their child’s Facebook posts. This decision could now set a legal precedent on the issue of parental responsibility over their children’s online activity. Child’s Facebook Posts Bring Lawsuit In the Georgia case of Boston vs Athearns, the Bostons sought damages for libel and intentional infliction of emotional distress and claimed the Athearns (parents) made no effort to compel their child to delete or remove the fake Facebook page he made about their child. The Georgia Court of Appeals upheld the negligence claims against the parents and […]

Georgia has a number of parental responsibility laws that can hold a parent or guardian liable for both criminal and civil acts that a minor may be involved in. The liability may include financial responsibility up to $10,000 plus court costs in property damage and/or medical expenses. Parental Responsibility Duty In Georgia, parental responsibility refers to the liability for both the criminal and civil acts committed by a minor, or child under 18 years of age. The law implies that parents have a legal duty to take reasonable steps to supervise their minor child, and they may become legally and […]

The State of Georgia takes a serious stand against illegal drugs. When it comes to arrest statistics, marijuana possession accounts for more than 90% of all forms of marijuana arrests. Georgia ranks 6th for marijuana arrest drug charges and crimes; New York, Texas, Florida, California, and Illinois, are ranked one through five. Georgia Penalties for Marijuana Arrests While Marijuana is not a scheduled substance it is regulated under the Georgia Controlled Substances Act. Charges may be filed as a misdemeanor or felony. The penalties, fines and/or terms of imprisonment vary for marijuana arrests of possession, possession with intent to sell, […]

Every fall when school starts back up drivers are faced with more traffic, more delays due to a stopped and loading school bus, and an increased need of attention due to children walking or riding their bike to school. The Georgia DOT urges drivers every fall and throughout the school year to put back to school safety first when around school zones, when children are on or near the roadway, and when a school bus is loading or unloading students. School Related Vehicle Accidents Accident research data has shown that more children are hit by a car near a school […]